Fitness of vessels: HC asks shipping ministry, BIWTA to submit reports

The High Court today sought all probe reports over the deadly fire on MV Abhijan-10 launch and also asked for the list of victims killed and injured in the incident.

The shipping ministry and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) have also been ordered to submit reports on the fitness of launches and ships plying across the country in 90 days.

In its observation, the HC said the officials concerned, who have allowed MV Abhijan-10 launch to ply without examining its fitness, should have been arrested earlier.

In response to two separate writ petitions, the HC ordered the shipping ministry and BIWTA to submit the reports on the probes to it in 30 days.

The HC directed the district administrations to give necessary financial assistance immediately if the victims of the fire incident apply for it.

The court also issued a rule asking the officials concerned of the government to explain why their inaction in taking measures to prevent the launch fire should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman came up with the directive and issued the rule following two separate writ petitions filed by Supreme Court lawyers Saumitra Sarder and Md Eunus Ali Akond seeking necessary directives on the issue.

Lawyer Aneek R Haque appeared for Saumitra Sarder while lawyer Eunus Ali Akond moved his petition, and Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state.

Saumitra Sarder and Eunus Ali Akond filed two separate petitions with the HC as public interest litigations on Sunday seeking the directives on the authorities concerned to give adequate compensations to the families of the victims and submit relevant reports to it.